16-Hour Hudson Canyon Deep Sea Adventure
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
16-hour offshore trip targeting Hudson Canyon watersFish for marlin, tuna, mahi, and thresher sharksSingle guest capacity with Captain Frank guiding
Picture this: you're 100 miles offshore in the legendary Hudson Canyon, surrounded by nothing but deep blue water and the promise of trophy fish. Captain Frank has been running these marathon 16-hour trips for years, and he knows exactly where to find the big ones. This isn't your typical half-day charter – we're talking about a serious offshore adventure that puts you right in the heart of one of the East Coast's most productive fishing grounds. The Hudson Canyon drops to over 1,000 feet, creating underwater highways that attract everything from marlin to massive bluefin tuna. You'll be fishing solo with Captain Frank, which means personalized attention and the flexibility to adjust tactics based on what's biting.
We launch well before sunrise to maximize our time over the productive waters. The ride out takes about 2.5 hours, giving you time to rig tackle and watch the sunrise paint the horizon. Once we hit the canyon edge, Captain Frank reads the water like a book – looking for temperature breaks, bird activity, and bait schools that signal feeding fish below. The boat stays in constant motion, covering different depths and structure throughout the day. Don't worry about bringing food – this is a long haul, so pack plenty of snacks and drinks to keep your energy up. The beauty of a 16-hour trip is that we can chase the bite wherever it leads us, and if the fish are really cooperating, Captain Frank might extend the trip to make sure you capitalize on the action.
Hudson Canyon fishing is all about covering water and presenting the right baits at the right depths. We'll be running a spread of outriggers with ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and lures designed to mimic the local baitfish. Captain Frank switches between high-speed trolling for wahoo and mahi, and slower presentations for marlin and tuna depending on conditions. The tackle is heavy-duty – we're talking 50 to 80-pound class rods with reels that can handle long runs from big fish. When we mark schools on the fish finder, we'll switch to chunking or live bait fishing, dropping baits down to where the tuna are holding. The captain provides all the gear, but if you have favorite lures or tackle, feel free to bring them along. Circle hooks are mandatory for billfish, and Captain Frank is a stickler for proper fish handling and release techniques.
White Marlin are the crown jewel of Hudson Canyon fishing, typically showing up from July through September when water temperatures hit the mid-70s. These acrobatic billfish average 50-70 pounds and put on spectacular aerial displays when hooked. They're drawn to the canyon's upwelling currents that concentrate baitfish along the drop-offs. Captain Frank has released hundreds of white marlin over the years, and he'll coach you through the fight to ensure a successful release.
Mahi Mahi, or dolphinfish as the locals call them, are pure excitement on light tackle. These colorful fish travel in schools and can provide non-stop action when you find them. They average 10-25 pounds in these waters, with the occasional bull mahi pushing 40 pounds. Look for them around floating debris, weed lines, and temperature breaks. Their aggressive nature makes them perfect targets for both trolling and casting, and they're absolutely delicious on the dinner table.
Yellowfin Tuna are the workhorses of the canyon, available from late spring through early fall. These powerful fish can range from school-sized 20-pounders to giants exceeding 200 pounds. They're incredibly strong swimmers that will test your endurance and the boat's tackle. Yellowfins often feed in deeper water during the day, making them perfect targets for our extended offshore trips.
Bluefin Tuna are the holy grail for serious anglers. These massive fish can exceed 300 pounds and are incredibly powerful fighters. They're most active in cooler water periods, typically spring and fall, though some giants hang around the canyon year-round. Bluefins are highly regulated, so Captain Frank stays current on all size and bag limits to ensure legal compliance.
Thresher Sharks add an element of surprise to canyon trips. These unique sharks use their elongated tail fins to stun baitfish, creating spectacular surface displays. They typically range from 100-300 pounds and provide incredibly strong, sustained fights. Threshers prefer the canyon's deeper edges where they hunt in the thermocline for squid and baitfish.
Hudson Canyon fishing represents some of the best offshore opportunities on the entire East Coast. With Captain Frank's experience and the flexibility of a 16-hour trip, you're positioned for the kind of fishing memories that last a lifetime. The single-angler format means you won't be competing for rod time or dealing with tangled lines from other fishermen. Summer months offer the most consistent action, but shoulder seasons can produce trophy-sized fish with less boat traffic. Don't wait too long to secure your date – Captain Frank's reputation for finding fish means his calendar fills up fast during peak season. Contact Kettle Creek Outfitters today and get ready for some world-class canyon fishing that will have you planning your next trip before you even hit the dock.
Thunnus ThynnusBluefin are the kings of the tuna world - massive, powerful fish that can reach 400+ pounds in our waters. The smaller school fish run 40-100 pounds, but giant bluefin over 200 are what dreams are made of. They're warm-blooded fish that can handle our cooler northeast waters better than other tunas. Spring and fall are prime time when they migrate through the canyon chasing herring and mackerel. The meat is incredible - the fatty belly cuts are what they pay top dollar for in Japan. These fish will test every piece of gear you have with deep runs and bulldogging fights that can last hours. Best tip I can give: when chunking for them, use a circle hook and let them eat the bait completely before tightening up. Rush it and you'll just pull the hook.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi are one of the most colorful fish you'll see out here - bright gold sides with electric blue and green backs that put on a light show when they come to the boat. They're fast growers that typically run 15-29 pounds, though we see bigger ones. These surface dwellers love floating debris and sargassum lines, which is where we target them in the canyon. They hit hard and jump like crazy, making for great action photos. The meat is firm and mild - perfect for grilling back at the dock. Best fishing is summer through early fall when water temps are up. Pro tip: when you hook one, keep your lines in the water. Mahi school up, and where there's one, there's usually more waiting.
Alopias VulpinusThresher sharks are some of the most unique predators we encounter - famous for that massive tail that's nearly as long as their body. They average 200-400 pounds and use that tail like a whip to stun schools of baitfish at 50+ mph. We find them in 100-600 feet of water around the canyon walls, usually hunting during early morning and late afternoon. What makes them special is watching them hunt - they'll actually jump clear of the water while chasing prey. The fight is different from other sharks too - lots of surface action and tail-slapping. Despite their size, they have surprisingly small mouths, so we use smaller hooks than you'd expect. Best technique is drifting live mackerel or trolling deep. Keep your drag smooth - that tail gives them serious leverage to throw the hook.
Kajikia AlbidaWhite marlin are the holy grail of billfish - smaller than blue marlin but pound-for-pound the best fighters in the ocean. They average 50-80 pounds and love the deep canyon edges where the water's blue and clean. Peak season runs June through September when they move up from the south. What makes them special is that incredible aerial display once hooked - they'll jump and tailwalk like nothing else. These are apex predators that hunt by diving down and using their bill to stun baitfish. We find them around floating debris and temperature breaks. Here's the key: when one shows up behind your ballyhoo, don't get excited and start reeling. Let it eat the bait completely before setting the hook, or you'll pull it right out of their mouth.
Thunnus AlbacaresYellowfin are the workhorses of the tuna family - torpedo-shaped speedsters that can hit 50 mph when they want to. Most fish we see run 40-80 pounds, but 100+ pounders show up regularly in the canyon's deeper water. They cruise the top 300 feet, especially around temperature breaks and current edges. Summer through fall gives us the best shot at them when the warm water pushes north. These fish make sushi-grade meat that's nearly as good as bluefin but way more available. They fight deep and long - plan on a real workout. When you're marking fish but nothing's biting on the troll, try dropping a jig down to them. Sometimes they just want something falling through the water column instead of skipping on top.
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